Di Biagio facing tournament KO

Luigi Di Biagio's World Cup could be over as the Italy midfielder faces at least two weeks out.

Di Biagio suffered a calf strain in training, and team doctor Andrea Ferretti said today that he would need "at least 15 days" to recover.

The 31-year-old was keen to do well here in order to banish the memory of France '98 and his missed penalty in the quarter-final shootout which Italy lost to the hosts.

The Inter Milan star, also part of the Italy team that lost on a 'golden goal' to France in the Euro 2000 Final, was aiming to make amends after a bitter end to his season.

His dream of finally winning a Serie A title vanished when Inter were pipped to the post by Juventus on the final day of the season.

Now he may be left to watch his World Cup team-mates from the sidelines. The semi-finals are being held on 25 June and Di Biagio's only chance of making another appearance in South Korea or Japan is if Italy reach the last four and he makes a rapid recovery.

First, Italy must beat Mexico on Thursday to be sure of a place in the second round, but the loss of their midfield general will hamper coach Giovanni Trapattoni's plans.

Di Biagio was the key to Italy's opening 2-0 win over Ecuador, providing the long pass for Christian Vieri's second goal and ensuring the midfield maintained dominance over the Latin American debutants.

He had to sit out the 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Saturday after suffering a ricked neck, following a week in which he had been struggling with a painful ingrowing toenail.

Francesco Totti, who played alongside Di Biagio when the Inter Milan midfielder was at AS Roma, said: "I am so sorry for Gigi.

"He is fundamental to us and is always playing the ball through."

Cristiano Zanetti replaced Di Biagio against Croatia and while he too missed training today his painful foot injury is expected to heal in time for the Mexico game.

Totti said that he had full confidence in Zanetti to be an effective replacement.

He admitted: "Zanetti is the only one who can play like Gigi. I think he will do well."